How I Started
I wrote my first computer game in 1983 on my brand new Sinclair ZX-81 (after saving hard - thanks paper round). It was actually this ZX-81, shown on the right (thanks Dad for keeping it for me all these years!)
Out of the box it came with 1KB of RAM, which most people agreed was fairly limiting, so I bought the 16KB RAM external expansion pack (not shown as it got lost along the way). It runs the Sinclair BASIC language, uses a TV as a display and loads and saves programs via cassette tape.
I don't remember what the game was, but let's agree it probably wasn't very good! :)
In 1984 (aged 17) I started a part-time job at Leading Edge Technology, selling home computers. This meant I could afford a Sinclair ZX Spectrum (the successor to the ZX-81). It came in two versions: 16 KB or 48 KB. I bought the 16 KB computer shown on the left (thanks again Dad!) and later upgraded it to 48 KB.
The Spectrum used an extended version of Sinclair BASIC to take advantage of it's simple colour and sound capabilities.
This all happened in New Zealand and the first game I have a record of writing was a PvP version of Connect 4 on the ZX Spectrum.
Below is the game reproduced in full in the August 1985 edition of Bits & Bytes magazine. Simple beginnings! :)
Click on an image below for a larger version:
